S-OIL Science Prodigy and Culture Foundation Confers Dissertation of the Year Awards
● S-OIL offers 130 mil. won in fellowships to four young scientists in physics and chemistry fields.
● The S-OIL Science Prodigy and Culture Foundation offers programs to support academic research and foster scientific talent.
The S-OIL Science Prodigy and Culture Foundation (SSPCF;Chairman: Oh Myung), a non-profit foundation established by S-OIL (CEO: Nasser Al-Mahasher), said on Dec. 2 that it held a ceremony for the 3rd Dissertation of the Year Awards at The Plaza hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul and gave 130 mil. won in fellowships to four award winners in the categories of physics and chemistry.
The Dissertation of the Year Awards was established in 2011 in order to support five basic science fields ? physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and earth science. The SSPCF selects outstanding researchers on the recommendation of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology and Korean University Presidents Association and offers fellowships.
By category, Park Jung-sik (31; Seoul National University), who observed the transformation of neutrino (elementary particle) created in nuclear reactors, won the award in the category of physics. The chemistry award went to Lim Chang-soo (32; Korea University), who conducted research on two-photon tracers (new material developed for in vivo imaging). The SSPCF gave 50 mil. won each to the two award winners. Also, Park Ji-sang (28; KAIST) and Chung Hyo-sung (30; Korea University) were named encouragement award winners in the category of physics and chemistry respectively and won 15 mil. won each.
“These young scientists who gained worldwide recognition for publishing excellent dissertations in basic science fields with academic passion and perseverance will be the force that propels Korea forward,“ said an official of the foundation. “The SSPCF will continue to make active efforts to expand support to help those scientists dedicate themselves fully to their research.”
In addition to the Dissertation of the Year Awards, the SSPCF runs various programs such as the Leading Scientist of the Year Fellowship, the Science Prodigy Academy, and transfer of technology to scientists from developing countries in order to support research and foster scientific talent. In particular, in the Science Prodigy Academy, which opened from September of this year, veteran scientists give science education and mentoring to gifted elementary school students. In the school, students communicate regularly with mentors until they enter university and cultivate creativity and scientific thinking.
